From K.J. Motorsports
This weekend Keith Butler and the KJ Motorsports Team continued their asphalt season by competing in a TBARA Series sanctioned double header at the Orlando Speedworld and New Smyrna Speedway.
On Friday the team pulled into Orlando Speedworld at 3:30pm. The afternoon at Orlando was in the 80’s and sunny, the night cooled down significantly. After the engine was running hot at the last event, the team worked to get the engine temperatures to run cooler. The team got on the track for both practices. In the first practice, the front end on “Ms. Liberty” was in Keith’s words “dancing around”. Before the second practice the team changed the gear, the stagger and made an adjustment to the fuel system. In the second practice, the car felt a whole lot better and Keith had a good feeling about the heat race coming up soon.
A total of 27 cars showed up for the TBARA event. Keith was in the second heat and started in the fourth position. Keith’s car had a slight push in the heat race. But he had no troubles and could drive any where he wanted to on the Orlando track. Keith was able make the needed passes for the lead and win the heat race.
Between the heat and the feature, the KJ Motorsports crew worked on Keith’s car to get it ready for the feature. Keith’s car needed a stagger change and adjustments to the fuel systems. The changes were made and the car was rolled out for an autograph session before the start of the feature.
All 27 cars made it out for the 30 lap feature race. Keith lined up in the fourth position. After the green flag, Keith settled into the 3rd position. The early part of the race was marred by some quick caution flags. The first came out on lap 2 as Troy DeCaire and Sonny Hartley got together in turn 4. After the restart, the current leader Matt Mercer pulled into the infield with unknown problems. This moved Keith to 2nd. The second caution came as Steve Heisler and Larry Brazil got together. After the restart Keith’s brother Shane got by Keith and put him back to 3rd. The field only got settled in for a little while when Keith had moved up the track to attempt a pass, when another car got below him and eventually into him. The other driver’s right rear hit Keith’s left front, which spun Keith around and caused a caution. Keith had to restart in the rear of the field.
After that restart, Keith wanted to makeup the most positions possible. He was quickly able to race his way up to 10th.After obtaining the 10th place Keith started noticing the engine missing and stumbling. Soon after noticing this and with about 4 laps to go in the race Keith pulled to the infield to avoid any engine damage. Keith ended up finishing in the 12th position.
In the final standings, David Steele won the event followed by Shane and Dude Teatefinished 3rd. Keith finished 12th.
The team inspected the car after the race and found that a right front radius rod was bent. Most likely during the caution where Keith’s car made contact with another car and spun around. The team stayed late at Orlando to fix the car before heading to the hotel.
The second day of the double header weekend started overcast with a little drizzle in the air. To help the track promote the night’s event, KJ Motorsports and a few of the other teams unloaded their cars and brought them to the front of the speedway near Highway 44 that runs right by the speedway. The weather was clearing by the time this event was starting.
In the first practice, Keith’s car was good, but before the second practice the team did make a gear change. After the second practice, Keith was very happy with the car.
A total of 25 cars showed up for the TBARA event. Keith was in the first heat and started in the third position. Keith’s car was better during the heat race, but still a little tight. Keith was able to get by the 2nd place car to finish 2nd in the heat race.
Between the heat and the feature, the KJ Motorsports crew worked on Keith’s car to get it ready for the feature. Keith’s car needed a stagger change, adjustments to the fuel system and a left rear spring change. The changes were made and the car was rolled out for an autograph session before the feature start the feature.
Only 23 of the 25 cars in attendance made it out for the 30 lap feature race. Keith, because of line up changes and cars being sent to the rear, moved from his 7th starting position to the 3rd starting position for the initial green flag. Brian Riddle and Steve Heisler made up the front row. The field came to the green flag and Keith got below Riddle getting into turn one and was leading the race before entering turn 2. However, the field came under a red flag during the first lap as Troy DeCaire hit the wall hard in turn 3. So the field was again lined up for a complete restart. As they took the green, Brian Riddle had changed his line going into turn 1. This time, Keith took the lead on the backstretch of lap 1.
Keith was stretching out a lead until lap 5, when Sonny Hartley hit the wall in turn 2. The field realigned and on the restart Keith again pulled out to a lead. The lead, this time, was out to about ¼ lap over the field. Keith maintained this lead until about lap 20. On that lap the stumble in the engine from the previous night reappeared and Dude Teate and David Steele were able to get by. The race continued on until a caution on lap 25. On the restart, Keith was able to stay in his position, but the stumble was not getting better. Two laps later, Keith had to pull to the apron of the track, as now the stumble was getting worse. Keith continued one more lap and to avoid damage to the engine he pulled off the track on lap 28.Keith ended up finishing 9th.
In the final standings, David Steele won the event followed by Shane Butler, Dude Teate, Bo Hartley and Larry Brazil Jr. finished 5th. Keith finished 9th.
The next race for KJ Motorsports will be on the dirt at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL, back with the Top Gun Sprint Car Series on October 9th.
KJ Motorsports will be back on the asphalt, with the Checkered Flag Sprint Series on October 16th at Punta Gorda Speedway in Punta Gorda, FL.
Media Kits, Head shots and Car Shots are all available on request. Please Email Jenn at KJMotorsports@aol.com
KJ Motorsports race schedule please visit our web site at KeithButler.Homestead.com.